From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This page provides a list of best-selling fiction authors to
date and in any language. While a precise number for any given
author is near impossible, the list is based on approximate numbers
provided or repeated by reliable sources. "Best-selling" refers to
the estimated number of copies sold of all fiction books written or
co-written by an author. To keep the length of the list manageable,
only authors with estimated sales of at least 100 million books are
included. Authors of comic
books are not included. For a few authors, including Miguel de
Cervantes, Alexandre Dumas, père, Charles
Dickens, Jack
Higgins and Leon
Uris, no exact figure could be found, although there are
indications that they too have more than 100 million copies of
their work in print. They have not been included in the below
table.

See also

Notes

^Times Online on William
Shakespeare: "Christie sold more than two billion books, translated
into 103 languages. Only the Bible and Shakespeare’s works are said
to have sold more." (September 14, 2005)

^ abTimes Online on William
Shakespeare and Agathe Christie: "Christie wrote 80 detective
novels mostly featuring Poirot or Marple and it has been suggested
that only the Bible and Shakespeare’s canon have outsold an
estimated 4 billion copies of her books. " (15 September 2008)

^News.com.au on Agatha
Christie: "With more than two billion copies of her 80 crime
masterpieces sold there is a ready-made audience for television
adaptations." (8 February 2008)

^The Telegraph on Barbara
Cartland: "Barbara Cartland, who, we are informed (on
www.condor-sj.com), 'is the most widely read author in the world
with more than 500 million books in print'?" (25 February
2007)

^The Independent on Harold
Robbins: "During his 50-year career (he died in 1997) he sold an
estimated 750 million books and, in the process, transformed
himself into a brand." (23 September 2008)

^USA Today on Harold
Robbins: "Starting in 1948, he sold 750 million books, including
megasellers such as The Carpetbaggers, A Stone for Danny Fisher and
The Betsy." (9 October 2007)

^The Age on Georges
Simenon: "With worldwide sales of 500 million, he was the most
widely read living writer of his era." (14 September 2003)

^The Wall Street Journal
on Georges Simenon: "In his lifetime Simenon published some 570
books, using 17 pen names, which have sold more than 700 million
copies in 40 countries and were translated into 57 languages." (1
April 2003)

^Encyclopedia Britannica on
Enid Blyton: "By the late 20th century her books had sold more than
300 million copies and been translated into at least 90 languages."
(24 November 2007)

^The Huddersfield
DailyExaminer on Enid Blyton: "She has been translated into 90
languages, is the sixth most popular writer worldwide according to
UNESCO and almost equal to Shakespeare, and has sold 600 million
copies." (25 August 2008)

^Reuters on Danielle
Steel: "Steel has since sold more than 560 million books and on
Tuesday will publish her 72nd novel "Honor Thyself."" (21 February
2008)

^MSNBC on Danielle Steel:
"Authored by Danielle Steel, whose romance novels have sold more
than 570 million copies, [...]" (17 June 2008)

^The Daily Utah Chronicle
on Dr. Seuss: "The Pulitzer Prize-winning Seuss wrote and
illustrated 47 books and sold more than 100 million copies in 18
languages." (5 March 2001)

^The New York Times on Dr.
Seuss: "Today Dr. Seuss's 44 books have been translated into 21
languages, selling more than 500 million copies." (2 March
2004)

^AFP on J. K. Rowling:
"Rowling's stories of boy wizard Harry Potter have sold almost 350
million copies around the world in some 65 languages." (8 May
2008)

^NineMSN on J. K. Rowling:
"Rowling has amassed an estimated $1.2 billion fortune from the
Potter series, which has sold over 400 million books worldwide and
spawned a $15 billion industry." (23 March 2008)

^The Chicago Tribune on
Jackie Collins: "More than 250 million copies of her books have
been sold to fans in more than 40 countries" (1 January 2007)

^The Guardian on Jackie
Collins: "One of the world's bestselling writers with more than 400
million books sold in over 40 countries. " (27 June 2004)

^Latin American Herald
Tribune on Corin Tellado: "In the course of her life she
published more than 4,000 romance novels that sold 400 million
copies, which earned her a place in the Guinness Book of Records
where she has been a fixture since 1994." (11 April 2009)

^AFP on Corin Tellado:
"Corin Tellado, Spain's most prolific romantic novelist whose books
sold over 400 million copies, died Saturday at the age of 81, three
days after she finished her last novel, a hospital official said."
(11 April 2009)

^Variety on Sidney
Sheldon: "A NEW MILESTONE FOR Sidney Sheldon, who has sold more
than 325 million books" (6 October 1995)

^The Columbus Dispatch on
Sidney Sheldon: "He was one of the world's most translated authors,
selling more than 400 million books in 180 countries." (January 31,
2007)

^ABC Australia on Stephen
King: "Stephen King, author of more than 40 novels with sales of
around 300 million copies, [...]" (12 November 2006)

^BBC on Stephen King: "But
- after selling 350 million copies of his horror and suspense books
- the author's latest work draws on a series of events which almost
broke him." (22 November 2006)

^The Jamestown Sun on
Louis L'Amour: "More than 330 million copies of his books have been
sold, translated into 27 languages." (29 October 2001)

^The Times of India on Dean
Koontz: "His books are published in 38 languages; worldwide sales
are nearly 200 million copies, and that figure currently increases
more than 17 million copies per year." (22 July 2003)

^The OC Register on Dean
Koontz: "Admitting to finally having found a great editor at
Bantam, the author, who has sold 325 million books in 38 languages,
talked about his craft. " (September 25, 2007)

^The New York Sun on Erle Stanley Gardner: "Erle
Stanley Gardner (whose Perry Mason stories sold more than a 100
million books)" (20 July 2005)

^The New York Times on
Erle Stanley Gardner: "Gardner's books continue to be reissued
regularly both here and abroad. Sales to date exceed 325 million
copies." (22 November 1992)

^The International
HeraldTribune on Jin Yong: "Jin Yong is an even more popular
novelist whose lengthy kung fu fantasies have sold more than 100
million copies" (20 June 2000)

^The People's Daily on Jin
Yong: "Jin Yong, born in Zhejiang in East China, is the world's
biggest-selling author of martial arts novels, having sold almost
300 million copies of his works." (11 April 2005)

^BBC AudioBooks catalogue
on Janet Dailey: "Janet Dailey has written more than 100 novels and
is one of the world's topselling women writers, with more than 300
million copies of her books sold in nineteen languages in
ninety-eight countries" (2007)

^BBC on Robert Ludlum: "He
has sold more than 110 million books in 40 countries and 32
languages." (13 March 2001)

^BBC on Robert Ludlum: "The
author, who died in 2001, has sold more than 290 million books
worldwide." (11 August 2005)

^The New York Times on
Frédéric Dard: "Mr. Dard wrote almost 300 books, of which more than
200 million copies have been sold." (15 June 2000)

^The Washington Post on
Frédéric Dard: "Mr. Dard worked as a journalist in Lyon from 1942
to 1950 before dedicating himself to novels, theater and film. He
used a number of pseudonyms, among them Frederic Charles, Kaput and
L'Ange Noir (The Black Angel), and sold more than 270 million
books." (9 June 2000)

^The Daily Nebraskan on
the Berenstains: ""They've sold over 200 million copies of their
books," said director James Larson." (21 November 2005)

^Variety on the
Berenstains: "The company also is offering a new animated series
based on the Berenstain Bears, the hugely popular children's brand
that has sold more than 260 million books worldwide." (7 April
2002)

^The New York Times on
John Grisham: "Over the last 15 years, more than 100 million copies
of Mr. Grisham's books have been published in hardcover and
paperback worldwide." (19 January 2005)

^BBC on John Grisham:
"While legal thriller writer Grisham - who has sold more that 250
million books in his 20-year career - picked up a lifetime
achievement award, Ian Rankin's The Naming of the Dead won best
crime thriller." (28 March 2007)

^The Writer's Almanac on
Irving Wallace: "Although often scorned by critics, his 16 novels
and 17 works of nonfiction have sold some 250 million copies
worldwide." (19 March 2003)

^USA Today on J. R. R.
Tolkien: "Tolkien's franchise has resulted in more than 200 million
books sold globally and $3.5 billion in box office revenue — not to
mention tens of millions of DVDs sold." (23 April 2007)

^Vancouver Sun on J. R. R.
Tolkien: "Since its publication in the mid 1950s, the series (plus
its prequel The Hobbit) has sold an estimated 250 million copies
and has inspired legions of fans who revere the books." (November
20, 2008)

^The Wall Street Journal
on Karl May: "the best-selling German author of all time, with 100
million books" (1 January 2004)

^Deutsche Welle on Karl
May: "With sales of over 200 million books, Karl May remains a
household name in today's Germany." (4 April 2001)

^CBC obituary of Mickey
Spillane: "He sold more than 100 million books, and Hammer inspired
several TV series and movies." (18 July 2006)

^The Washington Post on
Mickey Spillane: "According to today's industry estimates, his 26
books have sold more than 200 million copies." (22 August
2001)

^BBC on C. S. Lewis:
"favourite Northern Irish author has sold over 100 million books
and inspired the Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings novels." (8
February 2008)

^The Daily Herald on C. S.
Lewis: "C.S. Lewis may not be on the best-seller list, but it is
estimated that his 38 books have sold more than 200 million copies
worldwide and remain in print 38 years after his death." (20
October 2001)

^Broadway.com on Charles
Dickens (figures for A Tale of Two Cities only!): "Since
its inaugural publication on August 30, 1859, A Tale of Two Cities
has sold over 200 million copies in several languages, making it
one of the most famous books in the history of fictional
literature." (24 April 2008)

^The Wall Street Journal
on Ann M. Martin: "A year earlier, however, the movie version of
"The Baby-Sitters Club" -- based on a series of young-adult books
that have sold more than 180 million copies -- sold only $10
million in tickets, barely exceeding its $6.5 million budget." (8
October 2004)

^Japan Inc. on Ryōtarō
Shiba: "Altogether, including such genres as dialogues with other
authors, more than 180 million copies of his books have been
printed" (22 June 2006)

^The Age on Arthur Hailey:
"Arthur Hailey , who has died at his home in the Bahamas aged 84,
was one of the most commercially successful authors of all time,
producing 11 books which sold more than 150 million copies, were
translated into about 40 languages, and brought him tens of
millions of dollars" (28 November 2004)

^The Washington Post on
Arthur Hailey: "He wrote 11 books, which were published in 40
countries and 38 languages, with about 170 million copies in
print." (27 November 2004)

^Sunday Herald on Gerard
De Villiers: "De Villiers, now 78, claims to have sold an
extraordinary 150 million books over his career - with every year a
million more added to the total in France alone." (November 19,
2007)

^USA Today on Beatrix
Potter: "Potter's story of the rabbit who is nearly killed after
defying his mother's warnings to avoid the garden of a farmer named
McGregor has sold more than 150 million copies in 35 languages."
(23 June 2003)

^The Telegraph on Michael
Crichton: "His books have sold more than 150 million copies." (1
July 2007)

^Wall Street Journal on
Michael Crichton: "Although it is always difficult to gauge the
total sales of any author, Mr. Crichton's Web site states that he
has sold more than 150 million books, and that 13 of them have been
adapted into movies." (16 November 2006)

^Encyclopedia Britannica
on Richard Scarry: "His "busy" books and dictionaries sold more
than 100 million copies worldwide, and in 1989 eight of his books
made the list of the top 50 best-selling children's books of all
time." (2008)

^Worldscreen on Richard
Scarry: "More than 150 million books by Richard Scarry have been
sold worldwide and translated into 30 languages." (2 April
2007)

^The Times-Union on James
Patterson: "The prolific novelist has more than 100 million books
in print and has spent 150 straight weeks on USA Today's list of
overall top-selling authors. " (February 26, 2006)

^ABC News on James
Patterson: "Interesting that James Patterson has sold nearly 150
million books." (13 March 2008)

^The Rocky Mountain
Collegian on Clive Cussler: "An audit later revealed the number
of Cussler books sold was around 40 million at the time the
contract was negotiated in 2000." (5 March 2007)

^The Telegraph on Clive
Cussler: "His widely popular novels - his new one, Golden Buddha,
the first in an adventure series called The Oregon Files, is
published next month - have sold 150 million copies in 40 languages
and have made the author a very wealthy man." (23 February
2004)

^BBC on Astrid Lindgren:
"Lindgren's books have sold over 100 million copies in some 80
languages." (28 January 2002

^BusinessWeek on Astrid
Lindgren: "True, Lindgren's books, which have sold more than 145
million copies the world over, remain bestsellers to this day and
the films based on her scripts continue to be immensely popular."
(16 November 2007)

^Hello Magazine on Jeffrey
Archer: "To date he has notched up sales of over 120 million books
worldwide." (2008)

^The Times of India on
Jeffrey Archer: "[...]Archer who has sold over 140 million copies
worldwide" (11 October 2008)

^Variety on Dan Brown:
""Angels and Demons" has sold 39 million copies to date [...] Those
sales lag behind "The Da Vinci Code," whose 81 million copies sold
puts it behind the Bible but not much else." (20 April 2009)

^The New York Times on
Eiji Yoshikawa: "It has remained on the Japanese best-seller list
ever since its initial publication as a novel in 1971, and has sold
an estimated 120 million copies." (13 September 1981)

^The Age on Catherine
Cookson: "One hundred million copies of her 103 books have been
sold worldwide." (6 October 2008

^Hastings Chronicle on
Catherine Cookson: "When Dame Catherine died, in June 1998, she had
completed 103 novels, sold over 120 million books worldwide and had
£20 million in the bank - all of which went to charities."
(2008)

^The Library of Congress on
Norman Bridwell: "Now more than 80 Clifford books have been
published, close to 100 million books are in print, and Clifford's
adventures are published in several languages worldwide."
(2002)

^KRCB television on Nroman
Bridwell: "Scholastic’s beloved, best-selling children’s books by
Norman Bridwell, with more than 160 titles and 110 million books in
print." (2008)

^AFP on Paulo Coelho: "He
is the all-time best-selling writer in the Portuguese language,
with a total of between 92 million and 100 million books sold."
(May 31, 2008)

^The Times on Paulo
Coelho: "Coelho is estimated to have sold more than 100 million
books since 1982, his work having been translated into 66
languages" (1 March 2008)

^The International Herald
Tribune on Roald Dahl: "Dahl's books, many of them darkly comic
and featuring villainous adult enemies of the child characters,
have sold over 100 million copies." (13 September 2006)

^BBC on Roald Dahl:
"Exhibitions and children's reading campaigns are being held to
commemorate the life of Dahl, who died in 1990 and has sold more
than 100 million books." (13 September 2006)

^The New York Times on Ed
McBain: "Ms. Gelfman, his agent, estimated that in 50 years of
writing, he had sold more than 100 million copies of his work."
(July 7, 2005)

^The Hollywood Reporter on
Ed McBain: "Evan Hunter, 78, a best-selling cop novel author who
sold more than 100 million books under his own name and the
pseudonym Ed McBain." (December 30, 2005)

^The Sun Runner on Andrew
Neiderman: "Aside from the fact that “The Devil’s Advocate” is a
film classic featuring Al Pacino, Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron,
Neiderman has over 100 million books in print and has been
published in 95 countries. " (2005)

^Authors' Den on Andrew
Neiderman: "Neiderman has over 100 million books in print and has
been published in 95 countries." (3 August 2006)

^The Independent on Roger
Hargreaves: "The popularity of the original characters led to a
television series, sold 100 million books and created a business
worth £130m" (22 January 2003)

^News Australia on Roger
Hargreaves: "The popular series featured characters like Mr Strong,
Mr Tickle and Mr Muddle, and it has been estimated that more than
100 million books from the Mr Men range had been sold worldwide."
(February 11, 2008)

^The Dallas Morning News
on Anne Rice: "All told, her books have sold more than 75 million
copies worldwide, been made into movies and inspired a Broadway
musical." (5 October 2008)

^Variety on Robin Cook:
"Cook, who with more than 100 million books in print virtually owns
the medical-thriller genre, appears to be branching out of his
element by adding an extraterrestrial component." (2 May 1997)

^Wesleyan University on
Robin Cook: "He has sold more than 100 million books worldwide,
which have been translated into approximately 40 languages."
(2007)

^The Telegraph on Wilbur
Smith: "Translated into 26 languages, they have sold more than 80
million copies worldwide." (28 April 2007)

^The Herald on Wilbur
Smith: "He is the author of 25 best-sellers and claims in court
papers to have sold about 100 million books." (21 May 2002)

^Augusta Chronicle on
Erskine Caldwell: "Mr. Caldwell's books have sold 80 million copies
and have been published in 43 languages. " (11 February 2007)

^The New York Times on
Erskine Caldwell: "More than 100 million copies of his books have
been printed around the world, and his short stories continue to be
included in anthologies" (1 December 1982)

^The Independent on
Eleanor Hibbert: "She sold staggering amounts, in the region of 100
million copies." (28 September 2008)

^The New York Times on
Eleanor Hibbert: "Eleanor Hibbert, a prolific and popular novelist
whose books, written under the pen names Jean Plaidy, Victoria Holt
and Philippa Carr, sold more than 100 million copies, died on
Monday aboard a Mediterranean cruise ship." (January 21, 1993)

^The New York Times on
Lewis Carroll: "Over 100 million copies of Carroll's book have
been sold, Mr. Allen said." (18 April 1985)

^The Miami Herald on
Denise Robins: "Miss Robins' novels, translated into 15 languages,
sold more than 100 million copies. " (3 May 1985)

^China.org on Cao Xueqin:
"Sun said that the book has sold over 100 million copies worldwide
so far. " (14 December 2005)

^The Times of India on Ian
Fleming: "Faulks took up where Fleming left off in 1966 with
Octopussy and the Living Daylights, the last of 14 Bond books which
have sold 100 million copies since." (13 July 2007)

^The New Zealand Herald on
Ian Fleming: "Faulks took up where Fleming left off in 1966 with
Octopussy and the Living Daylights, the last of 14 Bond books which
have sold 100 million copies since." (July 11, 2007-

^The International Herald
Tribune on Hermann Hesse: "Hesse's novels appear in 68
languages and have been sold more than 100 million copies
worldwide" (28 October 1999)

^The Capital Journal on
Rex Stout: "During his 88-year life, he had written about 50 books
and 75 novellas and short stories, which had been translated into
26 languages and sold more than 100 million copies." (21 September
2003)

^The Telegraph on Ken
Follett: "If you didn't know Ken Follett was a multimillionaire
novelist, whose books have sold, according to his publishers, about
100 million copies, you could be forgiven for thinking him a
second-hand car-dealer." (7 October 2007)

^Publishers Weekly on
Debbie Macomber: "Last year her new books sold 2.8 million copies,
bringing her total in print to more than 60 million." (19 June
2006)

^The Sun Journal on Debbie
Macomber: "With more than 100 million copies of her books in print,
Debbie Macomber is one of the leading voices in women's fiction
today with her novels regularly appearing on the best-seller
lists." (29 April 2008)

^The Deseret News on Mary
Higgins Clark: "Mary Higgins Clark has been on the New York Times
best-sellers list 27 times and has more than 100 million copies in
print in the United States" (29 March 2009)